Let the chemo begin

It's been awhile and I don't really have a good excuse for that. And I know that's true because whenever someone asks me what I've been up to I think about it for a minute and have to conclude..."nothing really." And when they respond "Nothing? So what does that entail?" I have to explain that it really means...nothing. I don't know. I cannot account for my time. Although I was thinking about it this morning and I decided that the best explanation for it is to say that whatever it is you do every night when you get home from work - that's what I do, only I do it in the daytime. And then in the night time I talk to my roommates (the actual one and the psuedo one), watch SYTYCD, occasionally go out, debate what to eat for dinner, etc. Not much to report on, you know?

Anyway it's time to catch everyone up on the treatment plan! What? You thought it was all over because they took the tumor out? Oh-ho-ho-ho-no. No, we're only MOSTLY done. And by "mostly" I mean...just over halfway.

So I got my little bag buddy (he's been much better lately, thank you for asking) and we're just starting to embark on Chemo part II. This time around I don't have to do radiation again (yay!) but instead we'll be doubling up on the chemo (boo). So basically I'll have to take the pills every day (six a day - eww), and then every few weeks I'll go in and have them stick an IV in my handy little port (which is in my chest right under my skin - feels like a little knob in there) and shoot me up with more chemicals for a few hours. Sounds like a party, right?

I've already started the pills again, but due to an unfortunate snafu in my doctor's office's scheduling abilities they didn't get me in the rotation as I had hoped. I was supposed to start the IV chemo last Tuesday but that didn't happen. I'm still waiting to hear when my start date for that will be. On the one hand I don't mind having a few more days of not feeling TOO sick, but on the other hand I'd really really like to get this thing started so that I can get it over with and get rid of this bag! I've got a total of 18 weeks to get through from the start of the first IV, so...the sooner it starts the better. If I can get through that then it's just one more month of healing up and then I get to have my LAST SURGERY (fingers crossed) and get my small intestine put back inside me where it belongs! As much fun as the bag has been, I'll be oh-so-happy to see it go.

I hear (from my doctor) that once I start doubling up on the chemo the side effects are going to intensify. Can't wait to see what THAT'S going to be like. Don't worry - when it happens I'll tell you all about it. :)